Dual grip walking and defense baton

ABSTRACT

A dual grip walking and defense baton comprising a shaft, a medial grip located axially along a medial region of the shaft, and an end grip located axially along a region adjacent a first end of the shaft. The shaft can be telescopically extendible from a second end and can be fitted with a defense spray and/or a flashlight mechanism. A contact member can be disposed on the second shaft end for applying force to an assailant&#39;s pressure point. A wrist strap can be attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the first end of the shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a baton which may be carried by a person while walking and/or for self protection in the event of a threat of bodily harm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of batons have been devised for personal protection and for use by police officers. Batons have been devised with medially located grips for balance, with contact members to apply force against an assailant, with attached or incorporated pepper spray devices, with flashlight attachments, and with looped wrist straps to facilitate carrying the baton. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,522,398 and 5,086,377 provide batons having medially positioned grips recognizing the advantage of balanced weight distribution, the latter patent also describing the benefits of physically incorporating a flashlight mechanism and an aerosol spray device in the baton. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,140, 5,370,407, 5,919,093, 6,261,188 and 6,306,040 provide batons with end grips and telescoping shafts enabling the batons to have an extended reach. U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,003 provides a baton formed on an end with a contact member for applying force to an assailant's pressure point. Batons with built in pepper spray devices are described in some of the foregoing patents and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,673,819, 6,386,726 and 6,499,855. Batons incorporating flashlight mechanisms are described in some of the foregoing patents and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,436. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,057, 5,733,195 and 5,938,532 provide batons with wrist straps.

As illustrated, for example by the aforesaid U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,436, 6,386,726 and 6,499,855, police batons are often formed with two grips, one on the stick portion, the other on a handle orthogonal to the stick portion, and various such batons contain a variety of the above-described features. Generally, only one grip is provided for batons without an orthogonal handle notwithstanding the incorporation of various of the above described pepper spray and flashlight devices. The grip is either medially located or on one end of the baton. In either case, the grip is not in an ideal position for use with one or the other of such devices.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a baton that can carry a pepper spray device and/or a flashlight mechanism without the above disadvantages. A dual grip walking and defense baton is provided which has a medially located grip as well as an end grip, both located axially along regions of a baton shaft or stick. The end grip is located adjacent a first end of the shaft while the medially located grip is located intermediate the first shaft end and the opposite, second shaft end. In specific embodiments, the shaft is telescopically extendible from the second end and the first shaft is fitted with a defense spray and/or a flashlight mechanism. In a further embodiment, a contact member is disposed on the second shaft end for applying force to an assailant's pressure point. In still further embodiments, a pedometer is affixed to the baton, one or more reflector bands are fitted to the baton, and a wrist strap is attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the first end of the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a baton of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the baton with a shaft telescopically extended;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the baton;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional, unexploded view of the baton, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the release and retaining mechanism for the telescoping shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a baton 10 comprises a shaft 12 formed of axially aligned cylindrical members 14 and 16 secured to opposite ends of a medial grip 18 defining a medial region of the shaft 12. An end grip 20 is located axially along a region adjacent a first end 22 of the shaft 12. The medial grip 18 is formed with a plurality of configured members 24 defining finger holds axially aligned along and around the shaft 12, which extend radially outwardly of the shaft and are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton 10 is grasped at its center. In this embodiment, there are five configured members 24 defining four finger holds 26.

The end grip 20 of the baton 10 is also formed with a plurality of configured members 28 defining finger holds 30 axially aligned along one side of the shaft, which extend outwardly of the shaft and are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton 10 is grasped by its end. In this embodiment, there are four configured members 28 defining three finger holds 30. The end grip 20 is formed of a pliable hollow material, such as neoprene slip-fit onto the first shaft end 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, the baton 10 is telescopically extendible from a second end 36 of the shaft 12, opposite the first shaft end 22. The shaft 12 is hollow along at least a substantial portion of its length and includes an elongate tubular member 32, which is a hollow aluminum cylinder, telescopically disposed in the shaft 12 and. The baton 10 has a release and retaining mechanism 34, described in more detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 5, for enabling the tubular member 32 to be retained in a collapsed telescoped position, to be released to extend from an end of the shaft 12, or to be releasably secured in its extended position.

In a particular embodiment, the centrally located grip 18 is about 3½ inches long, about 1⅜ wide at the configured members 24 and 1¼ inches at the finger holds 26 which extend about ½ inch between adjacent configured members 24. The end grip 20 is about 4⅜ inches long, about 1¾ wide at the configured members 28 and 1½ inches at the finger holds 26 which extend about ⅝ inch between adjacent configured members 28. The cylindrical members 14 and 16 of the shaft 12 are about 1¼ inch in outer diameters and the tubular member 32 is about 13½ inch long and 1 inch in outer diameter.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the baton 10 includes a replaceable defense spray container 38 having defense material such as an aerosol tear gas or pepper spray therein. The defense spray container 38 is disposed in the first end 22 of the shaft 12, the shaft 12 having a finger opening 40 through one side thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to actuate the spray container 38, and having a spray opening 42 through the opposite side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material to spray out from the baton 10. The configured members 28 of the end grip 20 are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from the spray container 38 is directed away from the user.

A pedometer, shown schematically at 43, is affixed to the baton adjacent the rear of the release and retaining mechanism 34. Forward and rear reflector bands, respectively 45 and 47, are fitted to the baton 10.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the baton 10 further includes a flashlight mechanism 44 disposed on the first end 22 of the shaft 12, the shaft 12 being hollow thereat. The flashlight mechanism 44 includes a battery 46 and support therefor within the hollow one end of the shaft 12 and a bulb 48 and bulb housing 50. The bulb housing 50 protrudes from the shaft end 22 and has the shape of an onion dome.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the baton 10 further has a contact member 52 on the second end 36 of the shaft 12, carried by the end of the telescopic tubular member 32. The contact member 52 is shaped to enable the user to apply painful force to an assailant's pressure point. In this embodiment, the contact member 52 has the shape of an onion dome. It has been found that such a shape enables tremendous pain to be inflicted on an assailant. As above-described, the bulb housing 50 protruding from the shaft end 22 also has the shape of an onion dome, for balanced aesthetic purposes.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, particularly FIG. 3, a looped wrist strap 54 is attached to the baton 10 on or adjacent the end grip 20 at a point distal from the first end 22 of the shaft 12. The wrist strap 54 in conjunction with the finger holds 30, enables the user to comfortably hold the baton 10 while walking. If suddenly assailed, the wrist strap enable the user to quickly bring the baton 10 to a defensive position to block blows and to inflict pressure point pain.

The baton 10 can be used without telescopically extending it or it can be extended quickly and easily. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, details of the release and retaining mechanism 34 are shown. The tubular member 32 is formed with a forward slot 56 and rearward slot 58. The release and retaining mechanism 34 includes a latch member 60 loaded to a lock position by a coil spring 62 to releasably lock into the forward slot 56 when the tubular member 32 is retracted and releasably lock into the rearward slot 58 when the tubular member 32 is extended. The latch member is raised from its lock position by a pivot 64 connected to the latch member 60 at one end and to a push button 66 loaded to an up position by a coil spring 62. By pushing the button 66 down, the latch member 60 is raised up out of engagement with the slot 56 or 58 enabling the tubular member to be retained in a collapsed telescoped position, to be released to extend from an end of the shaft, or to be releasably secured in its extended position.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, means presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include such means within their scope. 

1. A baton comprising: a shaft; a medial grip located axially along a medial region of the shaft; and an end grip located axially along a region adjacent a first end of the shaft.
 2. The baton of claim 1 in which the end grip is formed with a plurality of configured members axially aligned along one side of the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped.
 3. The baton of claim 2 in which the configured members of the end grip extend outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds therebetween.
 4. The baton of claim 3 in which the end grip has four configured members defining three finger holds.
 5. The baton of claim 2 in which the end grip is formed of a pliable hollow material slip-fit onto said first shaft end.
 6. The baton of claim 1 in which the medial grip is formed with a plurality of configured members axially aligned along and around the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped.
 7. The baton of claim 6 in which the configured members extend radially outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds therebetween.
 8. The baton of claim 6 in which the medial grip has five configured members defining four finger holds.
 9. The baton of claim 6 in which the shaft comprises a pair of axially aligned cylindrical members secured to opposite ends of the medial grip.
 10. The baton of claim 1 in which the shaft is telescopically extendible.
 11. The baton of claim 10 in which the shaft is hollow along at least a substantial portion of its length and includes an elongate tubular member telescopically disposed therein, the baton having a release and retaining mechanism for enabling the tubular member to be retained in a collapsed telescoped position, to be released to extend from an end of the shaft, or to be releasably secured in its extended position.
 12. The baton of claim 11 in which the end of the shaft from which the tubular member extends is at a second end of the shaft, opposite said first shaft end.
 13. The baton of claim 12 in which said release and retaining mechanism is located adjacent the second end of the shaft.
 14. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable defense spray container having defense material therein and disposed in one end of the shaft, the shaft having a first opening through one side thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to actuate the spray container and having a second opening through the opposite side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material to spray out from the baton.
 15. The baton of claim 14 in which the spray container is disposed in said first shaft end and wherein the end grip is formed with a plurality of configured members axially aligned along one side of the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from the spray container is directed away from the user.
 16. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a flashlight mechanism disposed on one end of the shaft, the shaft being hollow thereat, said mechanism including a battery and support therefor within said hollow one end of the shaft and a bulb and bulb housing.
 17. The baton of claim 16 in which said bulb housing protrudes from said one shaft end.
 18. The baton of claim 17 in which said bulb housing has the shape of an onion dome.
 19. The baton of claim 16 in which said flashlight mechanism is disposed on said first end of the shaft adjacent the end grip.
 20. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a contact member on one end for applying force to an assailant's pressure point.
 21. The baton of claim 20 in which the contact member has the shape of an onion dome.
 22. The baton of claim 20 in which the contact member protrudes from a second end of the shaft, opposite said first shaft end.
 23. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a pedometer affixed thereto.
 24. The baton of claim 1 further comprising one or more reflector bans fitted thereon.
 25. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a wrist strap attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the first end of the shaft.
 26. A baton comprising: a shaft hollow along at least a substantial portion of its length; a medial grip located axially along a medial region of the shaft formed with a plurality of configured members axially aligned along and around the shaft and extending radially outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds therebetween, and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped; an end grip located axially along a region adjacent a first end of the shaft formed with a plurality of configured members axially aligned along one side of the shaft and extending outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds therebetween, and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped; and an elongate tubular member telescopically in the shaft at a second end of the shaft, opposite said first shaft end, the baton having a release and retaining mechanism adjacent the second end of the shaft for enabling the tubular member to be retained in a collapsed telescoped position, to be released to extend from the second end of the shaft, or to be releasably secured in its extended position
 27. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a replaceable defense spray container having defense material therein and disposed in said first shaft end, the shaft having a first opening through one side thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to actuate the spray container and having a second opening through the opposite side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material to spray out from the baton, and wherein the plurality of configured members the end grip are positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from the spray container is directed away from the user.
 28. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a flashlight mechanism disposed to protrude from the first end of the shaft adjacent the end grip, the shaft being hollow thereat, said mechanism including a battery and support therefor within said hollow one end of the shaft and a bulb and bulb housing.
 29. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a contact member protruding from the second shaft end and having the shape of an onion dome for applying force to an assailant's pressure point.
 30. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a pedometer affixed thereto.
 31. The baton of claim 26 further comprising one or more reflector bans fitted thereon.
 32. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a wrist strap attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the first end of the shaft. 